Caucus News

This year’s state budget (see SB/AB 153 for details) includes California’s first state-funded universal basic income (UBI) proposal. The Legislature today voted to begin administering the “California Guaranteed Income Pilot Program”, a $35 million program to be governed by the state Department of Social Services for the purposes of providing payments of up to $1,000 to eligible program participants. The Department will prioritize funding to serve residents exiting the state’s extended foster care program as well as pregnant individuals.

SB 300, The Sentencing Reform Act of 2021, authored by Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) has passed the California State Senate and will now head to the State Assembly.

SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) has appointed Dr. William T. Armaline to the Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory (RIPA) Board. Pro Tem Atkins appointed Dr. Armaline to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of the last member.

SACRAMENTO – Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) released the following statement in response to the unprecedented 2021-22 state budget signed by Governor Newsom: 

SOLANO COUNTY – With California’s wildfire season off to an early and destructive start, Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, today announced he’s secured a $1.9 million state budget allocation for Solano County to boost its wildfire prevention and suppression efforts.

SACRAMENTO - Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) Senate Bill 357, the Safer Streets for All Act, passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee by a vote of 6-2. It now heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

SACRAMENTO - Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) legislation, Senate Bill 519, which decriminalizes the possession and personal use of certain psychedelic drugs, passed the Assembly Health Committee by a vote of 8-4. It will now head to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Research from top medical universities shows that these substances can have significant benefits, particularly for treating mental health and substance use disorders.

SACRAMENTO – Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) legislation, Senate Bill 110, passed the Assembly Health Committee with a unanimous, bipartisan vote. It will now head to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. This legislation will address the worsening methamphetamine addiction crisis facing our state. The Recovery Incentives Act legalizes the substance use disorder treatment known as “contingency management,” and authorizes Medi-Cal to cover it.

SACRAMENTO – Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) announced today that the 2021-22 state budget includes $50 million in immediate funding that she requested to help struggling small theaters as they emerge from the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sacramento, California – Senate Bill 715, a measure authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) which creates gun purchase safeguards and expands independent review of tragic police shootings, cleared the Assembly Public Safety Committee today.